Right there with ya. The Solarium looks ok, but it looks like 1 step forward and 2 steps back. It has the retractable roof, but doesn't seem to have any sort of tailgating area. And why in the world can't we get a stadium design that looks structurally sound? Neither one of these stadiums look like they'd hold up against the tornado that hit the dome a few years ago.

I love that Americans are so entitled, that when the weather is less than ideal it is a personal affront to them. How dare it (rain in autumn/snow in winter/be hot in summer/etc.), I have things to do! And this weather largely doesn't prevent me from doing them, but makes me mildly uncomfortable when I do these things, and gives me an easy way of involving myself in casual conversations with complete strangers!!! Oy, the humanity!!

Mighty Weather God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,The courage to change the things I can,And wisdom to know the difference.

Mighty Weather God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,The courage to change the things I can,And wisdom to know the difference.

Obviously, we cannot change the weather, but we have the technical know how to build buildings with retractable roofs. There are designs that work well, and are structurally sound. The designs that we have been shown here don't seem to account for the weather that we are likely to experience in GA.

The, "pantheon" looks like a giant turbine covered in cloth. The solarium is a giant greenhouse with a retractable roof. What about these structures makes you believe that they would fare well in a heavy windstorm like we get every spring and fall?

The better question is what about these structures do you think won't allow them to fare well? Why would you think they'd fare any worse than the Georgia Dome?

And WTF is a "heavy windstorm?" Is that code word for a tornado? Because I hate to tell you, Atlanta isn't the only place on the planet that is susceptible to tornados. And I hate to break it to you there is really no man-made structure that is able to withstand tornado forces, thus why they don't tell people to flock to their local *insert man-made structure* in the midst of tornadoes, they tell them to go underground.

Well, the dome seemed to fare pretty well against a tornado. The corner of the roof got a tear. Better than having all of the windows blown out like the Westin. I don't think a giant greenhouse would have fared very well. Would have been a freaking nightmare scenario with flying glass everywhere. The pantheon, with it's rigid angles, and apparent light material exterior also doesn't appear that it would fare well in such a storm.

I'm a function over form kinda guy. I see these designs as artwork rather than functional stadiums. I can also see the cost of these designs escalating as construction is underway. At the end of the day, the idea is to provide an atmosphere that is preferred over what people can get at home. As such, I'd much rather have them build a more functional design with lots of amenities rather than overspend on a futuristic piece of artwork.

The Atlanta Falcons are in line for a new stadium. The team reached an agreement with the city of Atlanta in March that agreed to the financing of a $1 billion facility, which means the stadium may well rival the palace that Jerry Jones built for the Cowboys in Arlington.

But just what can $1 billion buy you these days? Well, the Georgia World Congress Center released a report, which you can download here, that runs through some of the design proposals for Atlanta's new digs. And let's just say the architects behind it don't lack for creativity.

There are two very different exterior designs for the stadium itself. The first, called the Pantheon, features a retractable roof that's referred to as the "Oculus." Here it is in all its glory:

The name was taken from the famous Pantheon in Rome, which inspired the massive skylight in the center of the stadium.

The second design, known as the Solarium, offers a drastically different look:

Among some of the more creative features in the proposed stadium, which you can see here:

Football in the Round -- A 360-degree video board that spans the circumference of the stadium above the field.

Impact Seating -- Chairs that vibrate with each big hit that happens on the field.

The 100 Yard Bar -- A bar with a long video board overhead that helps you keep track of the current drive while you relax with a beverage.

The Fantasy Football Lounge -- An area stocked with TVs and streaming stats so you can keep track of your fantasy team's progress.

So what do you think? Would this become the new "it" stadium in the NFL? Or does the proposal still pale in comparison to the house that Jerry built?

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum